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O2 Forum Kentish Town

{{Short description|Concert venue in Kentish Town, London, England}}

{{About||the Minnesota golf facility|Town & Country Club (Saint Paul, Minnesota)|the far-right forum|London Forum (far-right group)}}

{{more citations needed|date=May 2014}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2014}}

{{Use British English|date=March 2014}}

{{Infobox venue

| name = O{{sub|2}} Forum Kentish Town

| logo_image = O2_Forum_Kentish_Town_Logo.jpg

| logo_size = 125px

| image = The Forum (49445858867).jpg

| image_size= 250px

| caption = Exterior of the venue (c. 2020)

| former names = Kentish Town Forum Theatre {{small|(1934–1963)}}
ABC Kentish Town {{small|(1963–1970)}}
Forum Dancehall {{small|(1984–1985)}}
Town & Country Club {{small|(1985–1993)}}
London Forum {{small|(1993–2007)}}
The Forum {{small|(2007–2009)}}
HMV Forum {{small|(2009–2013)}}
The Forum {{small|(2013–2015)}}

| location = Kentish Town

| coordinates = {{coord|51.5522|-0.1422|type:landmark_region:GB-CMD|display=inline,title}}

| address = 9–17 Highgate Rd
London, England NW5 1JY

| genre=

| architect= J. Stanley Beard

| opened = {{Start date|1934|12|17|df=yes}}

| closed= {{hlist|1970–1983}}

| renovated= {{hlist|1983|1993|2007}}

| seating_capacity= 2,300

| owner = Academy Music Group

| operator= Live Nation

| publictransit ={{rail-interchange|london|underground}} {{rail-interchange|gb|Rail}} {{stn|Kentish Town}}

| website = {{URL|http://o2forumkentishtown.co.uk/|Venue Website}}

}}

The O{{sub|2}} Forum Kentish Town is a concert venue in Kentish Town, London, England, owned by Live Nation Entertainment and originally built in 1934.

History

The venue was built in 1934 and was originally used as an art deco cinema. After the cinema was closed, the venue re-opened as an Irish dance hall. In the 1980s, it changed directions from a bingo hall, to a dance hall and then to a live music venue under the name Town & Country Club.{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/rock-the-mourning-after-rip-the-tc-north-londons-best-loved-concert-venue-is-set-to-close-in-march-1564029.html |title=The mourning after: RIP the T&C? North London's best-loved concert venue is set to close in March |author= |date=17 December 1992 |website=The Independent |access-date=22 April 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190423011429/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/rock-the-mourning-after-rip-the-tc-north-londons-best-loved-concert-venue-is-set-to-close-in-march-1564029.html |archive-date=23 April 2019 |url-status=live }} In 1993, Mean Fiddler Music Group purchased the venue and renamed it the London Forum. The final show at the T&C was Van Morrison on 21 March 1993.{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/my-old-man-said-follow-the-van-jim-white-sees-van-morrison-mark-the-end-of-an-era-at-the-town-1499734.html |title=My old man said follow the Van: Jim White sees Van Morrison mark the end of an era at the Town & Country Club, London |last1=White |first1=Jim |date=24 March 1993 |website=The Independent |access-date=April 11, 2019}} From 2009-2013 the venue was named the HMV Forum.{{cn|date=September 2024}}

In 2007, MAMA & Company purchased the Forum from Mean Fiddler and spent £1.5 million on renovations, increasing the capacity to 2,300. In 2015, the venue was acquired by Live Nation, and re-branded as O2 Forum Kentish Town as part of the O2 Academy Group.{{cite web|url=http://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/live-nation-re-brands-3-ex-mama-venues-as-o2-in-the-uk/|title=LIVE NATION RE-BRANDS 3 EX-MAMA VENUES AS 'O2' IN THE UK|date=12 October 2015|website=Nusic Business Worldwide|archive-url=https://archive.today/20190423011658/https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/live-nation-re-brands-3-ex-mama-venues-as-o2-in-the-uk/ |archive-date=23 April 2019}}

The venue has standing downstairs and benches seating in booths on the upstairs balcony, or a fully seated layout for certain shows.

Noted performers

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References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • {{Commons category-inline}}
  • [http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/6293 Forum Theatre] at Cinema Treasures

{{Academy Music Group venues}}

{{London Clubs}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Buildings and structures in the London Borough of Camden

Category:Music venues in London

Category:Art Deco architecture in London

Category:Tourist attractions in the London Borough of Camden

Category:Music venues completed in 1934

Category:1934 establishments in England

Category:Kentish Town